Recommendations for weight management in women

A group of researchers from the Mayo Clinic have led a review of weight gain risks and challenges faced by women in midlife; this has led them to propose a series of recommendations for this patient group. They found that the average weight gain for women in their 50s and 60s was 1.5 pounds per year, with much of that weight being abdominal, which is linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. The researchers were particularly interested in this group due to the challenges of maintaining a healthy weight that these women face. Mood changes, sleep disturbance, hot flushes and many other symptoms of the menopause can disrupt what may have been a previously healthy life.

They recommend that primary care providers screen this patient group for overweight, and establish behavioural interventions (including psychological support) early. Further to this, management of menopausal symptoms is of importance as it enables women to focus on health lifestyle changes, this could be done using hormone replacement therapy. By targeting the lifestyle habits during midlife, further negative health consequences can be avoided in the future.